Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Forum - Perforated Eardrum surgery

Hello,

I am considering whether to have a surgery to repair the perforated eardrum. My ENT specialist said that I have a hole in my eardrum, that it cannot healed by itself, and that I need surgery. He and I filled out the hospital form and faxed it to the hospital. A few days later, I called the hospital, and the receptionist said that I have been put on a waiting list. I am very afraid to have a surgery, and I have never had a surgery before. I am so scare of pain. I am still considering whether to have a surgery or not, because I do not know what the risks are. If anyone have had eardrum surgery before, can you please let me know how it went. I can hear ringing in my right ear, and sometimes the fluid came out of my hear, but as long as I kept away from water, then the discharge stop. How successful is the surgery, and how much hearing improvement did you get from having the surgery? What happen before and after surgery, and the affects of anaesthesia having on your body? What happen if left untreated? Did they put you on sedation, with breathing device put on your mouth or nose? Do you feel any pain during and after surgery? Must I have the surgery? Did the doctor perform the stitches, and did you get the stitches removed after completely healed? Any advice is appreciated.

Replies(8)

Lydia32

replied on May 4th, 2009

Experienced User

All these questions should be answered by your doctor. Take the list of questions and sit down with your ENT and make him answer all of them. That is part of his job.

I don't know what country you're from, but here in the U.S., the doctor is supposed to explain the risks and benefits of every procedure, then you sign a paper saying you understand and agree. Is that not how it works where you are?

SurgeryFear

replied on May 5th, 2009

New User

Hello Lydia,

Thank you for the reply and advice. I asked my ENT whether it is painful to have a surgery, and he said no, that is all I asked. I couldn't think of anything to ask him since then, because I was so afraid of surgery, that my mind was completely empty.
I am living in Australia. Right now, I don't have the appointment date yet, I still have to fill out the medical form and send it back to the hospital. Do they explained the risks and benefits for you when it was near the date of surgery? Anyone have had this surgery done before, please let me know how it went. Any advice is appreciated.

SurgeryFear

replied on May 5th, 2009

New User

Lydia32

replied on May 5th, 2009

Experienced User

I'm not sure how it works in Australia, but my doctor explained all the risks and benefits during my surgery consultation. He was patient and answered all my questions (not all doctors are that way, some you have to push a bit). I signed a paper before I went in for surgery that basically said that the doctor explained everything and that I understood the risks of surgery as well as those of the anesthesia.

Anesthesia does have risks, but it is also very safe. Most people have no complications. I know it's weird (or even scary) to think about yourself being unconscious that way, but trust me, you don't even know it at the time. They give you the IV, they tell you to count backwards from 100 and by the time you get to 95, that's it. You're totally asleep. You're groggy when you wake up. They may ask you if you want a Popsicle (the breathing tube they had down your throat makes it sore).

I would look online at some other medical websites and see what they actually do when you have your eardrum repaired. You'll also see the risks and benefits on there. Then you can make a list of questions to ask the doctor. The more you know, the more you'll feel in control.

SurgeryFear

replied on May 6th, 2009

New User

Hello Lydia,

Thank you for the reply and advice once again. I am still on the waiting list, and don't have the actual appointment date for the surgery. Is the surgery consultation held when it is near the date of surgery? If the risks outweigh the benefits would you consider to have the surgery done? Why did you have a surgery? Does anesthesia make you sleep? I thought that they have another drug that put you on sedation beside anesthesia. Anesthesia only make you numb? What is IV? Did you feel any pain when you woke up? Reading your message, make me scare even more. I don't know how I will cope with my surgery. I may faint on the day of the surgery, because I will be so nervous. Did they put breathing tube down your throat? I thought they make you wear a mask for breathing? Did they also gave you blood tranfusion? I had looked at some other medical websites, and did find out about the risks and benefits. One of the risks that I'm scare of for my surgery is, face paralysis, and hearing get worse. I have just sent the form today to confirm my personal details. Thank you for your support.
It is nice to hear from people that had surgery done before, because it gave me something to think about, and to understand, and make my own decision. The more I know the better.

SurgeryFear

replied on May 6th, 2009

New User

Hello Lydia,

Forgot to ask you, did they gave you general or local anesthesia? Given through injection or other means?

hardt22

replied on May 12th, 2009

New User

I have had 4 ear surgery on the left ear

It is not pain ful they will insert an iv in ur hand and than give a a seditive before surgery to make u relax than they take u to the surgery roon about 20 min after the seditive but it feel like hours to u cuz u are so relaxed thaet u fall asleep....than they put u on the table and place ur arm in a sling on the side of the table and and give u a shot in the iv and have u count backwards from 100 and usually u get to 95 and u are out
and the next thing u know u wake up in the recovery room and u can hear at first really well u have to ask people to be quiet and than u go home and take it easy for 4 days, no heavy lifting not alot of walking or anything just relaxing cuz u will get dizzy and u might fall cuz ur equal liberum is really off but it just takes a 2 to 3 days to get it back fully than u can go back to work on light duty for about 2 weeks and than full duty.thats it
hope this helped u let me know

SurgeryFear

replied on May 12th, 2009

New User

Hi hardt22,

Thank you for the reply and the advice given. This is very helpful, and it sort of calming me down a little. Are the reason that you have 4 surgery was because it was unsuccessful the first time around maybe due to infection that make it difficult to graft the tissue to the eardrum? Did the surgeon performed the operation through your ear canal or make an incision at the back of your ear? The insert an iv to make your skin numb or make you sleepy? Reading from your message, I think you have been given general anesthesia. So my question is can local or regional anesthesia be use instead of general anesthesia? Did it hurt after the surgery is over? You experienced any symptoms? I am still afraid, because this will be my first time having an operation, so I don't know how I will cope. I am still on the waiting list, and probably for several months before my first appointment. How successful was the surgery? Are you able to hear low frequency and high frequency sound? If you had tinnitus, did it disappear? Thank you so much for sharing your experience with me.

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